Inaugural Ceremony of the New Motor Life-boat.

ON 31st August, H.R.H. The Duchess of York named the new Motor Life-boat stationed at Arbroath (Angus).

This Life-boat, which has replaced a Pulling and Sailing Life-boat, has been built out of a legacy from the late Misses Isabella and Elizabeth Mudie, of Dundee.

She is one of the light Self-righting Motor Life-boats, 35 feet 6 inches by 8 feet 10 inches, specially designed for Stations where the Life-boat has to be launched off a carriage or the open beach, de- scribed on p. 570.

Station Founded in 1802.

Arbroath is one of the oldest Life-boat Stations on the Scottish coast. It was established in 1802. Its Life-boats have been launched on service ninety-five times and have rescued forty-three lives.

Provost William'Chapel presided at the ceremony, which took place in the presence of thousands of people watching from the houses and harbour-side. The harbour and the town were gaily decorated, and music was provided by the Arbroath Instrumental Band. The guard of honour was composed of fishermen who had served in the Navy or Army.

Mr. Robert L. Mudie, a nephew of the two donors, presented the Life-boat to the Institution. In doing so he said that the Misses Mudie had been bene- factors to numerous charities, but that none of their bequests was more worthy than this gift of a Life-boat. She was, at their wish, to be named after their brothers, John and William Mudie. One had spent many years in the Far East, the other had been well known as a town councillor of Dundee.

Increase in Scottish Support.

The Duke of Montrose, C.B., C.V.O., V.D., LL.D., Chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council and a Vice-President of the Institution, accepted the Life-boat on behalf of the Institution, handed her to the Branch and expressed its gratitude to the Misses Mudie and their family. He spoke also of the great increase in Scottish support of the Life- boat Service during the past five years.

Its contribution had risen from under £11,000 a year to over £22,000. In this way Scotland had responded to the appeal that the Scottish people should pay for the maintenance of the Scottish Life-boats.

Provost Chapel, in receiving the Life- boat, expressed the gratitude of Arbroath to the two donors and to the Institution.

The fishermen of the East Coast were a courageous race. They had never failed and they never would fail to respond to the call of the Life-boat Service.

Commander E. D. Drury, O.B.E., R.D., R.N.R., Chief Inspector of Life- boats, described the Life-boat, and she was dedicated by the Rev. J. Spence Cuthill, B.D. The hymn " 0 God our Help in Ages Past" was sung to the accompaniment of the Arbroath Town Band.

The Duchess of York then named the Life-boat John and William Mudie, and the Duke of Montrose presented her with a silver model of a Life-boat in memory of the ceremony.

The Earl of Strathmore, K.T., G.C.V.O., Lord Lieutenant of Angus, and the father of the Duchess, offered the good wishes of all to Arbroath, on what would be remembered as a red- letter day in the annals of the town.

A vote of thanks to the Duchess was proposed by Harriet, Lady Findley, D.B.E., Honorary Secretary of the Scottish Life-boat Council, and seconded by Baillie Sheriffs, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman and others was pro- posed by Commander the Hon. A. D.

Cochrane, D.S.O., M.P., Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Life-boat Council.

After the ceremony the Duchess of York, with Provost Chapel, the Duke of Montrose, the Earl of Strathmore, Lady Helen Graham and Commander Drury, went aboard the Life-boat and made a trip round the harbour, loudly cheered by the crowd..